Abstract: A system and method are provided for sharing a data stream between a first data storage system in communication with a second data storage system. Meta-data is associated with each record of the data stream. Zero or more records of the data stream are compressed at the first storage system. The meta-data for the compressed data record is updated to indicate that the data record has been compressed. The data stream including the compressed data record with the updated meta-data is sent to the second storage system. The meta-data and the data stream records are stored on a storage device at the second data storage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring the communication of a minimal length data stream in a system including a host and a storage management device is provided. The method and apparatus includes first and second buffers for simultaneously receiving compressed data and the original data from the host. The system compares the length of the data in the first and second buffers. If the data has expanded, indicating that compressed data is longer than the original data, the original data is provided to the storage media. If the data has not expanded, indicating that the original data is longer than the compressed data, then the compressed data is provided to the storage media.